Toolkit: Behaviour-based recruitment

This toolkit contains best practice guidance for employers on how to recruit for behaviours and take into account volunteering and social action.

Not having the correct experience is the biggest barrier to young people who want to apply for a role. By changing the focus of recruitment processes from previous experience to looking for positive behaviours, attitudes and aspirations, employers can spot young people with the potential to flourish in their company rather than ruling them out automatically due to a lack of experience.

Employers can also take into account other valuable experience that young people have gained outside of education and employment such as volunteering, social action and hidden digital skills. These kinds of experiences demonstrate initiative, a wide range of interpersonal skills and a commitment to making a difference.

With best practice guidance for employers on how to recruit for behaviours and take into account volunteering and social action, this toolkit includes

a step-by-step guidance to help employers identify the kinds of behaviours and attitudes that show young candidates' potential

key actions employers can take to draw out the value of volunteering and social action experience in their recruitment processes

sample questions for behaviour-based recruitment

how to uncover hidden digital skills

This toolkit was developed as part of Business in the Community’s Future Proof campaign, backed by the City & Guilds Group to help employers break down the barriers in their recruitment processes to create quality, accessible jobs for all young people.